No government is ready for AI's impact, warns Bill Gates

No government in the world is prepared for the changes artificial intelligence will bring to society, Bill Gates has said, warning of risks to jobs, cyberattacks, and addiction to AI companions. The Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist recently told Reuters he had, until recently, been optimistic about AI, but has now changed his position.

Despite his concerns, Gates and his foundation hope AI can narrow the gap between the richest and poorest rather than widen it, reports Reuters. The Gates Foundation said it will spend $1 billion on partners working in education, healthcare, and agriculture, part of its previously announced plans to spend $9 billion annually. The funding also aims to build the data foundations AI relies on, including ensuring that large language models work in every language people speak.

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"For health it's hard to overstate what the potential is," Gates said in the Reuters interview, pointing to support for frontline health workers and the discovery of new drugs and vaccines.

He called on governments to work together, comparing the arrival of AI to a disaster movie in which nations unite against an alien threat. "AI is kind of like this alien intelligence. It's here, and we better do like it shows in those movies," he said.